On Feb. 21, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the anti-retaliation provision of the Dodd-Frank Act (DFA) protects only employees who complain to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and not those who make only internal complaints.

In a unanimous decision, the justices ruled in favor of Digital Realty Trust (Digital Realty), finding that employees who bring securities law complaints against their employers must first take their allegations to the SEC to be protected by the DFA anti-retaliation provisions.

The decision resolves a long-standing circuit split, discussed in a prior GT Alert, between the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals which held internal reporting was not protected by the DFA, and the Second and Ninth Circuits which held that internal reporting was protected.

FINRA recently issued Notice to Members 17-42, which proposes sweeping changes to the process by which a securities broker may seek to expunge reference to a customer complaint from his or her public record. The comment period for the proposed rule amendments ended on Feb. 5, 2018. The proposed changes will now to go the SEC for review and approval. The proposal, if approved, would result in a major overhaul of the expungement process, and, as FINRA acknowledges, will likely increase the cost and the difficulty for brokers making expungement requests. Industry participants may wish to comment to the SEC before the proposal is approved.

Key provisions of the proposed rule amendments include:

Brokers making a request for expungement must pay a minimum filing fee of $1,450;

Requests for expungement must be filed within one year of the closing of a customer arbitration case, or from the closing of a customer complaint (if no arbitration case was filed);

Requests for expungement relief must be filed not against the customer who initiated the complaint (as in current practice), but against the firm which employed the broker at the time the complaint was made, and firms will be assessed a member surcharge and a processing fee (thus increasing the costs for both brokers and firms when expungement relief is sought);

Unless a request for expungement relief is decided in an existing arbitration case, all such requests must be heard by a panel of special arbitrators who must (1) be qualified as public chairpersons, (2) have completed enhanced expungement training; (3) be admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction; and (4) have at least five years’ experience in litigation, federal or state securities regulation, administrative law, service as a securities regulator, or service as a judge. This is true even if a broker makes a proper request for expungement relief during the course of an arbitration, litigates the case before a properly-constituted panel for an extended period of time and then settles the matter on the eve of the arbitration hearing; in such instances the broker will be required to file an entirely separate action, subject to an entirely different set of rules.

Brokers must appear at an expungement hearing in person or by videoconference, and such hearings may no longer be conducted telephonically.

Decisions of the arbitration panel on requests for expungement must be unanimous.

The European Systemic Risk Board (the Board) published a recommendation that the European Union should adopt rules to prevent funds from taking on excessive debt and from allocating inadequate reserves to compensate for assets that are hard to sell. The board went so far as to suggest stronger liquidity stress tests, improved liquidity management and tighter supervision. Private funds whose portfolios are comprised of leveraged and complex derivatives are paying close attention to this call for action by the Board as it comes on the heels of a separate announcement detailing the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) focus on improving how complex derivative products are being offered to retail investors. IOSCO is proposing everything from new leverage limits, minimum margin requirements and a host of other measures for products like binary options and contracts for differences. Asset managers who sought to reposition their derivative strategies in registered funds will need to monitor these developments closely with their counsel and consider repositioning certain strategies through over-the-counter transactions. While IOSCO’s proposal impacts EU as well as U.S. regulators alike, the impact would be minimal in the United States considering existing caps on Reg T and portfolio margining leverage capabilities along with restrictions on U.S. retail persons trading contracts for differences. For those who have benefitted from arranged financing or enhanced leverage platforms generally offered through UK broker dealers, it is important to determine whether the existing leverage model can be repositioned under alternative portfolio margining/stress models by consulting with qualified counsel.

On Jan. 31, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued its long-awaited ruling in the PHH v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau case, finding that the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is constitutional, but reinstating the previous panel decision rejecting the CFPB’s interpretations of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the relevant statute of limitations. While PHH may appeal the constitutional ruling to the Supreme Court, and other cases involving the CFPB continue to raise the separation of powers and other structural constitutional issues, this decision is significant in that (a) a three-judge panel of the same circuit court had previously ruled that the CFPB’s structure was constitutionally infirm, and (b) the court has now reinstated the prior ruling rejecting the CFPB’s interpretation of RESPA Section 8(c)(2) and the applicable statute of limitation.

As it does every January, FINRA released its annual Regulatory and Examinations Priorities Letter identifying areas of examination focus for the coming year, recurring challenges faced by firms, and possible risks impacting the financial sector. FINRA’s 2018 exam priorities for the first time identify cryptocurrencies and related initial coin offerings (ICOs). Other first-mentions include technology governance, business continuity plans, and non-purpose loans. FINRA’s highest listed priorities this year are the repeated priorities of fraud and recidivist brokers.

Protecting senior investors was a prominent part of FINRA’s Exam Priorities in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2018, protection of seniors was not a delineated priority issue but permeated most all other topics.

Despite the fact that FINRA has announced a more strategic use of its resources, most of the old favorites make an appearance including suitability, AML, and cybersecurity.

The CFTC has asserted that Bitcoin is, and other virtual currencies may be, commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act. As such, pursuant to Section 2(c)(2)(D) of such Act, “off exchange” financed retail transactions in virtual currency are prohibited unless an exception applies. One exception found in Section 2(c)(2)(D)(ii)(III)(aa) provides, in relevant part, that such a prohibition shall not apply to a “contract of sale that results in actual delivery [of the commodity] within 28 days.” On December 15, 2017 the CFTC issued a proposed interpretation and requested comments on the meaning of “actual delivery” in the context of virtual currencies and retail financed transactions.

This GT Advisory discusses whether secured financing can be maintained while satisfying the CFTC’s interpretation of “actual delivery”. Moreover, the advisory considers whether the “actual delivery exception” is available for retail finance transactions that are not “contracts of sale.”

In February, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to review the fiduciary rule for brokers that President Obama’s Labor Department adopted. The federal rule would expand the definition of “investment advice” in the retirement context and require brokers to provide advice that is in the consumer’s best interest. While the federal fiduciary rule is under review, the U.S. DOL delayed some of the rule’s requirements until July 1, 2019. In response, Governor Cuomo announced that the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS or Department) proposed a rule requiring brokers to put their customers’ best interests first in life insurance and annuity transactions.

Companies across many different industries are starting to look toward blockchain technology as a way to conduct business more effectively, efficiently, and securely. As a result, there are new blockchain technology startups and strategic partnerships being established at break-neck speed. And, like any burgeoning industry, there seem to be new innovations introduced almost every day.

Nanette Aguirre, corporate shareholder, will participate in the Florida Alternative Investment Association (FLAIA) Global Perspective 2018 Conference in Miami, FL, Dec. 5. Aguirre will participate as a speaker and provide an update on developments in current regulation and market trends. Aguirre is joined by a series of panelists from private funds who will address the global trading market. Greenberg Traurig is a sponsor of the program. Aguirre is a board member of FLAIA.

Jennifer Weddle and Gil Rudolph, Greenberg Traurig, LLP shareholders, will participate in the 2017 Tribal Financial Regulators Conference in Minneapolis, Nov. 30. Rudolph and Weddle will speak in the session titled “Hot Topics in Federal Consumer Protection and Best Practices for Addressing All That is in Third Party Vendor Contracts.” The conference brings together tribal financial regulators who engage in consumer lending and other financial services from tribes throughout the country.

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Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GTLaw) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. A single entity worldwide, GTLaw has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the second largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2016, and among the Top 20 on the 2016 Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.